How To Get Lost Ashes Of War And Where To Find Them
Mastering weapon skills in Elden Ring allows players to customize their combat style, but duplicating your favorite skills requires a rare resource known as Lost Ashes of War. These blank key items carry no inherent elemental affinities or weapon arts of their own. Instead, they serve as essential crafting components for tarnished warriors looking to apply powerful combat arts across multiple weapons.
Understanding the Purpose of Lost Ashes of War
Lost Ashes of War are special items designed specifically for duplicating skill arts you already own. By taking one of these items to Smithing Master Hewg at the Roundtable Hold, you can recreate any standard Ash of War in your inventory. This process does not consume your original skill, giving you complete freedom to equip matching abilities onto dual weapons.
Because these items are finite during any single playthrough, spending them requires careful planning. Players cannot farm them endlessly from standard enemies, making every discovered item particularly valuable. Knowing where to purchase or scavenge them early in your adventure ensures your build remains versatile throughout the Lands Between.
Where to Purchase Lost Ashes of War from Merchants
The easiest way to obtain Lost Ashes of War early in the game is by visiting isolated merchants scattered across the map. The Isolated Merchant located at the Weeping Peninsula sells one early on for 3,000 runes. Traveling further north to the Dragonbarrow region in Caelid reveals another merchant who offers two additional copies for 5,000 runes each.
Underground explorers can also find merchants holding these valuable items during their subterranean journeys. The Hermit Merchant resting along the Ainsel River maintains a single stock available for purchase. Later in your journey, visiting the Imprisoned Merchant inside the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum allows you to secure another copy for your collection.
Key Exploration Locations Across the Lands Between
In addition to purchasing from vendors, several Lost Ashes of War are hidden within treacherous dungeons and secret areas. Adventurers exploring Raya Lucaria Academy can discover one at the base of the massive waterwheel lift near the cliffside. Another is concealed inside the crystalline depths of Sellia Hideaway, resting near giant purple crystal structures.
As you progress into higher-level zones, keep a close eye out for hidden treasure chests and guarded corpses. In the Altus Plateau, a chest within Sage's Cave contains a copy past the initial skeletal guardians. Further into Leyndell, capital sewer tunnels and the outskirts near Dung Eater's cell also reward vigilant explorers with extra copies.
How to Duplicate Weapon Skills Efficiently
To use your gathered materials, fast travel directly to the Roundtable Hold and speak with the resident blacksmith. Select the duplication option from Master Hewg's dialogue menu to review your current collection of skill arts. Spending one Lost Ash of War along with a small fee will instantly craft a duplicate skill for immediate weapon application.
This duplication system enables creative dual-wielding setups that can deal immense stance damage or rapid status buildup. Whether you prefer inflicting frostbite or bleed on both blades, possessing duplicated skills elevates your overall combat potential. Make sure to stock up on these rare items whenever you encounter new merchants during your quest.